This study examined the impact of 935MHz phone-simulating electromagnetic radiation on embryo implantation of pregnant mice. Each 7-week-old Kunming (KM) female white mouse was set up with a KM male mouse in a single cage for mating overnight after induction of ovulation. In the first three days of pregnancy, the pregnant mice was exposed to electromagnetic radiation at low-intensity (150 μW/cm(2), ranging from 130 to 200 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), mid-intensity (570 μW/cm(2), ranging from 400 to 700 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day) or high-intensity (1400 μW/cm(2), ranging from 1200 to 1500 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), respectively. On the day 4 after gestation (known as the window of murine embryo implantation), the endometrium was collected and the suspension of endometrial glandular cells was made. Laser scanning microscopy was employed to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular calcium ion concentration. In high-intensity, 2- and 4-h groups, mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The calcium ion concentration was increased in low-intensity 2-h group but decreased in high-intensity 4-h group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells between low- or mid-intensity groups and the normal control group, indicating stronger intensity of the electromagnetic radiation and longer length of the radiation are required to inflict a remarkable functional and structural damage to mitochondrial membrane. Our data demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation with a 935-MHz phone for 4 h conspicuously decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and lowered the calcium ion concentration of endometrial glandular cells. It is suggested that high-intensity electromagnetic radiation is very likely to induce the death of embryonic cells and decrease the chance of their implantation, thereby posing a high risk to pregnancy.

Moderate drought stress has been found to promote the accumulation of active ingredients in Glycyrrhiza uralensis root and hence improve the medicinal quality. In this study, the transcriptomes of 6-month-old moderate drought stressed and control G. uralensis root (the relative water content in soil was 40%-45% and 70%-75%, respectively) were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000. A total of 80,490 490 and 82 588 278 clean reads, 94,828 and 305,100 unigenes with N50 sequence of 1,007 and 1,125 nt were obtained in drought treated and control transcriptome, respectively. Differentially expressed genes analysis revealed that the genes of some cell wall enzymes such as β-xylosidase, legumain and GDP-L-fucose synthase were down-regulated indicating that moderate drought stress might inhibit the primary cell wall degradation and programmed cell death in root cells. The genes of some key enzymes involved in terpenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were up-regulated by moderate drought stress might be the reason for the enhancement for the active ingredients accumulation in G. uralensis root. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of auxin, ethylene and cytokinins by moderate drought stress might enhance the root formation and cell proliferation. The promotion of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid by moderate drought stress might enhance the drought stress tolerance in G. uralensis. The inhibition of the biosynthesis and signal transduction of gibberellin and brassinolide by moderate drought stress might retard the shoot growth in G. uralensis.
Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcriptome

BACKGROUNDDetermining the nerve of origin for vestibular schwannoma (VS), as a method for predicting hearing prognosis, has not been systematically considered. The vestibular test can be used to investigate the function of the superior vestibular nerve (SVN) and the inferior vestibular nerve (IVN). This study aimed to preoperatively distinguish the nerve of origin for VS patients using the vestibular test, and determine if this correlated with hearing preservation.

METHODSA total of 106 patients with unilateral VS were enrolled in this study prospectively. Each patient received a caloric test, vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test, and cochlear nerve function test (hearing) before the operation and 1 week, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively. All patients underwent surgical removal of the VS using the suboccipital approach. During the operation, the nerve of tumor origin (SVN or IVN) was identified by the surgeon. Tumor size was measured by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTSThe nerve of tumor origin could not be unequivocally identified in 38 patients (38/106, 35.80%). These patients were not subsequently evaluated. In 26 patients (nine females, seventeen males), tumors arose from the SVN and in 42 patients (18 females, 24 males), tumors arose from the IVN. Comparing with the nerve of origins (SVN and IVN) of tumors, the results of the caloric tests and VEMP tests were significantly different in tumors originating from the SVN and the IVN in our study. Hearing was preserved in 16 of 26 patients (61.54%) with SVN-originating tumors, whereas hearing was preserved in only seven of 42 patients (16.67%) with IVN-originating tumors.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that caloric and VEMP tests might help to identify whether VS tumors originate from the SVN or IVN. These tests could also be used to evaluate the residual function of the nerves after surgery. Using this information, we might better predict the preservation of hearing for patients.

Adult ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Nerve ; physiology

This study examined the impact of 935MHz phone-simulating electromagnetic radiation on embryo implantation of pregnant mice. Each 7-week-old Kunming (KM) female white mouse was set up with a KM male mouse in a single cage for mating overnight after induction of ovulation. In the first three days of pregnancy, the pregnant mice was exposed to electromagnetic radiation at low-intensity (150 μW/cm(2), ranging from 130 to 200 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), mid-intensity (570 μW/cm(2), ranging from 400 to 700 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day) or high-intensity (1400 μW/cm(2), ranging from 1200 to 1500 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), respectively. On the day 4 after gestation (known as the window of murine embryo implantation), the endometrium was collected and the suspension of endometrial glandular cells was made. Laser scanning microscopy was employed to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular calcium ion concentration. In high-intensity, 2- and 4-h groups, mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The calcium ion concentration was increased in low-intensity 2-h group but decreased in high-intensity 4-h group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells between low- or mid-intensity groups and the normal control group, indicating stronger intensity of the electromagnetic radiation and longer length of the radiation are required to inflict a remarkable functional and structural damage to mitochondrial membrane. Our data demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation with a 935-MHz phone for 4 h conspicuously decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and lowered the calcium ion concentration of endometrial glandular cells. It is suggested that high-intensity electromagnetic radiation is very likely to induce the death of embryonic cells and decrease the chance of their implantation, thereby posing a high risk to pregnancy.
Animals ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Embryo Implantation ; physiology ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Mice

Objective To detect the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α),glucose transporter protein-1 (GLUT-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human laryngeal carcinoma tissue,and to study the relationship between hypoxia and HIF-1α,GLUT-1,VEGF in human laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells and to explore the effect of HIF-1α,GLUT-1 and VEGF as endogenous hypoxic markers on laryngeal carcinoma.Methods The expression levels of HIF-1α,GLUT-1 and VEGF were detected in 35 cases of laryngeal carcinoma by SP immunohistochemical methods and in Hep-2 cells by SP immunocytochemical methods.The relationship between HIF-1 α and GLUT-1,VEGF protein expression was analyzed.Results Of the 35 cases,16 cases expressed HIF-1α,16 cases expressed GLUT-1,19 cases expressed VEGF.The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF were closely correlated with pathologic grading and lymphnode metastasis.GLUT-1 was correlated with lymphnode metastasis.The expression levels of HIF-1 α,GLUT-1 and VEGF in Hep-2 cells under hypoxic condition were higher than those under normoxiccondition.Conclusion HIF-1α may promote the expression of GLUT-1 and VEGF in laryngeal carcinoma,furthermore promote tumor angiogenesis,invasion,and metastasis of the laryngeal carcinoma.

The study was aimed to explore the mechanism of SYK and CBL family of ubiquitin ligases in Bufalin-induced HL-60 cells apoptosis. Cell viability was tested by trypan blue staining and apoptosis was detected by using flow cytometry. The expressions of CBL and CBL-b and the phosphorylation of SYK were detected by using immunoprecipitation and Western blot. The results showed that Bufalin inhibited HL-60 cell proliferation in time- and dose-dependent manners. IC(50) of suppressing cell viability at 24, 48 and 72 hours were about 26.3, 7.8 and 2.0 nmol/L respectively. The high dose of bufalin already induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells at 8 hours. SYK was quickly phosphorylated, and the expressions of CBL and CBL-b were down-regulated after treatment with Bufalin. It is concluded that SYK activation and CBL protein down-regulation may be involved in Bufalin-induced HL-60 cell apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Syk Kinase

OBJECTIVETo discuss the advantages and disadvantages of transcallosal-interforniceal approach for resection of the third ventricle and the pineal region tumors.

METHODSThe clinical data of 24 cases from July 2008 to March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. All 24 patients operated by transcallosal-interforniceal approach, among them, there were 14 males and 10 females, with a average age of 32 years ranged from 17 to 65 years and with medical history from 1 month to 10 years. Issues of managements were analyzed and discussed, including reasonable incision design, the managements of draining vein, the site and the length of the incision of the corpus callosum, tumor exposure in increased intracranial pressure, prevention of complications, skills of surgery, treatments of obstructive hydrocephalus, and postoperative managements.

RESULTSIn the 24 cases, there were 5 cases of pineal parenchymal tumors, 4 cases of germinoma, 3 cases of astrocytoma, 2 cases of hypothalamus hamartomas, 2 cases of ependymoma, 2 cases of mixed germ cell tumour, 2 cases of malignant lymphomas, 1 case of pineoblastoma, 1 case of dermoid cyst, 1 case of chordoid glioma and 1 case of craniopharyngioma. After surgeries, total removal achieved in 9 cases, and subtotal removal in 10 cases and partial removal in 5 cases. Operative mortality was 0. Combined third ventriculostomy were performed in 13 cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases, including frontoparietal epidural hematoma in 1 case; postoperative short-term memory loss in 3 cases, postoperative memory loss within 1 month in 2 cases and within 3 months in 1 case; frontoparietal subdural effusion in 1 case and the effusion disappeared without any treatment. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcallosal-interforniceal approach is ideal for the removal of tumors in third ventricle as well as majority tumor in posterior of third ventricle in a skillful hand. Tumor resection combined with third ventriculostomy is the significant advantages in the approach.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Third Ventricle ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare electrophysiological changes in treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with ozone by curving sheath-needle multi-direction rotating injection (CSNMRI) and conventional injection method.

METHODSFrom May 2005 to June 2009,100 patients with LDH were studied, included 68 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 25 to 58 years with an average of 44 years, in course of disease from 3 months to 8 years with an average of 8.8 months. All patients were numbered according to sequence of visit, and were completely randomly divided into group A and group B with DPS software, 50 cases in each group. All patients were injected ozone into lesion of intervertebral disc, in group A with CSNMRI and in group B with conventional method. The electrophysiologic study of all patients was performed respectively before treatment and at the 3 month after treatment. The electromyogram (EMG) of the main muscle groups of involved lower limb and the corresponding segments of sacrospinal muscle was tested; the duration and multiphase-wave rate of MUP were calculated. H-reflex of tibial nerve in both lower limbs was observed and the number of abnormal H-reflex and the H-wave latency were recorded.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the number of muscles with abnormal EMG was reduced to different degrees in each group, but there was more significant reduction in group A (P < 0.05 or 0.01); the duration and multiphase-wave rate of MUP in the two groups were both reduced and close to the normal level (P < 0.01), yet the changes in group A was more than that of group B (P < 0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in the number of abnormal H-reflex before treatment between two groups, whereas was markedly lower in group A than that of group B after treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, H-wave latency in two groups was shortened and become close to normal, but group B was more statistically significant than group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe neural electrophysiological abnormalities can reflect the degree of nerve root compression and damage, and is one of the objective indicators to estimate neuromuscular function. It can better meliorate abnormal electrophysiology to inject ozone to treat LDH with CSNMRI than conventional method.

Adult ; Aged ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Encephalocele ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; abnormalities ; Male ; Meningocele ; Middle Aged ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

[Objective]To investigate the effect of KIF23 gene expression on the proliferation,migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro,and to explore the possible mechanism.[Methods]The KIF23 siRNA was transfected into HepG2 cells by lipofectamine 3000.The expression of KIF23 mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells was de-tected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.The effect of silencing KIF23 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells was studied by CCK-8 assay and plate clone formation assay.The tumor cell abilities of migration and invasion after transfection were measured by scratch assay and Transwell assay.The expression of protein kinase B(PKB/Akt)and phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)protein in HepG2 cells transfected with KIF23-siRNA2 was detected by Western blot.[Results]KIF23-siRNA could effectively si-lence the expression of KIF23 mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells(P<0.01).The results of CCK-8 assay,plate clone forma-tion assay,scratch assay and Transwell assay demonstrated that the cell proliferation,migration and invasion ability of the KIF23-siRNA2 interference group were significantly inhibited,compared to the negative control group and the blank control group(P<0.05).The expression level of total Akt protein in HepG2 cells was not changed,but the expression level of phos-phorylated Akt protein was down-regulated(P<0.05).[Conclusions]KIF23 may promote the proliferation,migration and in-vasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating Akt signal transduction pathway.KIF23 is expected to be a new target for gene therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of microwave irradiation on the expression and regulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

METHODSNeurons were exposed to 90 mW/cm(2) microwave irradiation for 10 minutes. Western blot was used to determine the expression of HSP27, HSP70, HSP90 and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) at 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hour respectively. Real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of HSF1. DNA-binding activity of HSF1 was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSThe protein expression of HSP27 was significantly increased by 22%, 36%, 18% at 3, 6, 12 h, respectively (P < 0.05). The protein expression of HSP70 was significantly increased by 23%, 32%, 26% at 3, 6, 12 h, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The protein expression of HSP90 was significantly increased by 27%, 33% at 6, 12 h, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The DNA-binding activity of HSF1 was stimulated, however, no significant change of the expression of HSF1 was observed on both the mRNA and protein levels.

CONCLUSIONThe transcriptional activity of HSF1 is activated by microwave irradiation, which promotes the expression of HSPs. Heat shock response which contributes to establish a cytoprotective state is induced by microwave irradiation in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Rats